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Dr. Fronek was recently invited to discuss vein disorders with the Family Medicine Residency Program at Scripps Chula Vista. The doctors-in-training were excited to learn about the variety of problems that patients have with their veins – including spider veins, varicose veins, blood clots, and leg ulcers. Primary care doctors see patients with vein disorders every day, and yet very few medical schools or residency training programs include any information about these common problems. Dr. Fronek and Dr. Bunke-Pacquette are committed to sharing their expertise with colleagues and are frequently asked to speak at medical meetings. Primary care doctors, in particular, can often start patients with vein disorders on conservative treatment, including graduated compression stockings and regular exercise (walking is usually the best exercise for vein disorders), as well as certain supplements such as horse chestnut seed extract, that can alleviate the symptoms that many patients with vein disease suffer from. Informed primary care doctors can also refer patients to a vein specialist when symptoms aren’t diminished with conservative treatment, if the varicose veins worsen while a patient is using compression and exercise, or if the patient suffers from a venous leg ulcer.

On Friday, April 20 Dr. Bunke-Paquette joined distinguished faculty to participate in UCSD’s 35th Annual Assembly in Surgery, held in the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, California. She discussed the modern management of venous leg ulcers to the attendees who were surgeons. One of Dr. Bunke-Paquette’s area of expertise is in the treatment of the venous leg ulcers. She discussed new methods of treatment for the venous leg ulcer. Dr. Bunke-Paquette explained how the goal of treatment is to eliminate the underlying venous insufficiency, which is the cause for the venous leg ulcer. She described non-surgical treatment methods such as foam sclerotherapy and endovenous radiofrequency and laser ablation therapies.
The 35th Annual Postgraduate Assembly in Surgery is a 4-day conference that was designed to bring the practicing surgeon up-to-date on the latest developments in general surgery and surgical specialties.

San Diego Magazine’s Top Doctors issue for October featured Dr.’s Bunke-Paquette and Dr. Helane Fronek. In the article, Dr. Bunke describes new therapies to treat venous disorders. ‘“New technology has eliminated the need for traditional vein stripping surgery. Using ultrasound scanning and other advanced procedures, we are able to provide precision treatments that are safe, painless, and effective—all without surgery,” said Dr. Bunke-Paquette.